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I'm confused about the consistent reference to the fact that Tom Wheeler used to be a lobbyist. It seems that having that sort of experience in the past would

by enobrev 12y ago

I'm confused about the consistent reference to the fact that Tom Wheeler used to be a lobbyist. It seems that having that sort of experience in the past would mean that he knows how to deal with lobbyists better than those who never have worked in the industry. Why is it assumed that because he used to lobby for the cable and telecommunications industry that he is now definitely corrupt? I don't know anyone, anywhere, who still goes to bat for their former position in priority over their current position. edit: It's not my intention to defend Wheeler. I don't agree with his position, which has barely been stated. I just don't think it's quite so obvious that he's explicitly doing the bidding of the cable industry purely for his own benefit, or theirs.

pessimizer 12y ago
>I don't know anyone, anywhere, who still goes to bat for their former position in priority over their current position. Then your experience of government regulators may be limited. edit: It may be more accurate to say that he's going to bat for his future position over his present position.
jameskilton 12y ago
Because he says things like this: > “What you want is what everyone wants: an open Internet that doesn’t affect your business,” a visibly frustrated Wheeler said at the meeting, according to four people who attended. “What I’ve got to figure out is how to split the baby.” No, no he doesn't need to "split the baby". He's refusing to listen to everyone else and is giving preferential ear to the cable companies. If he gives them anything, they will take it all and destroy the Internet as we know it.
- andrewstuart2 12y ago
  I'm not a fan of this reference either, though for different reasons. We're to believe he needs to "split the baby" between the 320 million Americans who should be able to use the internet, and the handful of companies that provide it?
  - jameskilton 12y ago
    Yeah, I know what you mean. I was appalled that he would use the phrase at all, much less in this context.
teddyh 12y ago
When people switch jobs easily between what are supposed to be opposing sides, it is easy to suspect that regulatory capture is taking (or has taken) place. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture

by enobrev 12y ago

pessimizer 12y ago

>I don't know anyone, anywhere, who still goes to bat for their former position in priority over their current position. Then your experience of government regulators may be limited. edit: It may be more accurate to say that he's going to bat for his future position over his present position.

jameskilton 12y ago

Because he says things like this: > “What you want is what everyone wants: an open Internet that doesn’t affect your business,” a visibly frustrated Wheeler said at the meeting, according to four people who attended. “What I’ve got to figure out is how to split the baby.” No, no he doesn't need to "split the baby". He's refusing to listen to everyone else and is giving preferential ear to the cable companies. If he gives them anything, they will take it all and destroy the Internet as we know it.

andrewstuart2 12y ago
I'm not a fan of this reference either, though for different reasons. We're to believe he needs to "split the baby" between the 320 million Americans who should be able to use the internet, and the handful of companies that provide it?
- jameskilton 12y ago
  Yeah, I know what you mean. I was appalled that he would use the phrase at all, much less in this context.

teddyh 12y ago

When people switch jobs easily between what are supposed to be opposing sides, it is easy to suspect that regulatory capture is taking (or has taken) place. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulatory_capture